Briefs

July 25, 1989

RICHMOND — COURT DEFENDS SATIRICAL TEACHER

A teacher was exercising his constitutional right of freedom of speech when he wrote a satirical letter that some readers of a school newspaper found offensive, a three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Monday.

The controversy began in December 1986, when the Lake Braddock High School student newspaper published an anonymous letter from female students who complained about "a few male chauvinistic P.E. teachers."

In his satirical response, physical-education teacher Donald Seemuller said the two females in his home "are a 16-year-old whom I permit to chauffeur my son to and from his many activities, and my wife, who is an adequate cook and housekeeper."

Seemuller claimed that his letter resulted in a bad job evaluation that cost him a step increase in pay. The Fairfax County School Board rejected the teacher's grievance, and U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton upheld the board.

But the appeals panel sided with Seemuller and sent the case back to the district court for reconsideration.

DRIVER CHARGED IN WOMEN'S DEATHS

VIRGINIA BEACH - A Richmond man has been charged in the hit-and-run deaths of two women who were struck by a pickup truck as they tried to cross a street near the oceanfront, police said.

John H. Harding III, 24, was being held on $300,000 bond on two counts of involuntary manslaughter and one felony charge of leaving the scene of an accident.

The women, who remained unidentified Monday, were hit by the truck about 1:30 a.m. Sunday as they tried to cross Pacific Avenue at 11th Street. Harding was arrested about eight hours later, police said.